I am sure that, by now, you are pretty knowledgeable about essential oils and have probably started using them already or are looking for easy and convenient ways to use them.

If you ask me, I find diffusing essential oils the most convenient way to enjoy their benefits. You just need a good diffuser and can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or blend and inhale the soothing therapeutic aroma. But, wait, what does a ‘good’ diffuser mean? Well, a good diffuser is the one which best suits your needs and budget.

While exploring the market place, I discovered different types of diffusers in different budget range and here, I am sharing my findings with you to help you decide which one to buy.

Heat Diffusers

Heat diffusers use heat to make the oil evaporate. Some heat diffusers use electricity to produce the heat (they use an electric bulb) and others use a candle. The essential oil heated in this diffuser produces a stronger smell and evaporates fast. These diffusers can overheat the essential oil which may alter its chemical composition. These diffusers are not recommended if you are diffusing essential oils for therapeutic benefits.

These diffusers are generally the least expensive ones.

Nebulizing Diffusers

These oil diffusers are usually the most expensive ones.

They use an atomizer or pump to pull the oil up through a tube. When the oil reaches the top of the tube, it shoots the oil into the air in the form of a fine mist. They disperse the oil in its purest concentrated form so they are a good choice if you want a stronger aroma in a large area. If you want to diffuse essential oils to treat allergies or a cold or flu, this type of diffuser is the best to combat them quickly and efficiently.

Ultrasonic Diffusers

These diffusers are more economical to use than the Nebulizing diffusers

They use electricity to vibrate a small disk underwater. These ultrasonic vibrations break up the essential oil on the water’s surface into super fine micro particles which are easily dispersed in the air and absorbed by our body. Since the oil is mixed with water, the mist is not as potent as the mist dispersed by the Nebulizing diffusers but it’s still a very effective way to distribute the oil into the air.

If you are diffusing citrus essential oils in them, you need to clean these diffusers regularly as citrus oils can corrode their internal parts.

Reed Diffusers

Least expensive of all, a reed style diffuser uses essential oil diffuser bottle and a few reeds. The reeds inserted into the diffuser oil bottle soak up the oil through capillary action and disperse the scent into the air. This works only till the oil evaporates. They are easy and cheaper option but you would need to replace the oil and reeds once they are used up.

Reed diffusers give a very subtle fragrance, sufficient for a small room. They won’t be effective if you need a stronger scent or something more purifying.

So, what are you waiting for? Select the best suitable one and enhance your essential oil experience!

Please drop your questions and comments below. I would love to hear from you

Having a rough and stressful day at work or home is very common these days. Thanks to our modern lifestyle, we are expected to hustle and achieve more and more all the time.

What do you do when you feel anxious and stressed out after a long busy day?

If you are using over the counter drugs to get relief from body ache or a headache due to stress and tiredness, think again. May be, you just need to relax or nap for some time in a calm and quiet environment.

Essential oils are a good way to reduce stress and relax your body and mind. They can help calm your anxiety so that you can sleep better.

Here are a few essential oils that can help you reduce your stress.

Patchouli – is excellent for stress-related emotional imbalance including anxiety, nervousness, and anger. It can uplift your mood, driving away thoughts of despair, traumatic memories, and mental fatigue. It is an effective antidepressant and is widely used in aromatherapy to help people get over a sense of loss and despair.

Cedar Wood – Cedar wood oil is great at relieving tension and has a calming effect on the mind. The aroma of cedar wood promotes the release of serotonin, responsible for stabilizing moods. It can also act as a natural sedative, as serotonin is converted to melatonin – which helps control and regulate sleep patterns and brings a feeling of calmness.

Lavender – The aroma of lavender helps control irritability, anger, anxiety, mood swings, and insomnia. It is excellent for improving mental concentration and clear thinking.

Ylang Ylang – Ylang-ylang helps overcome sadness, frustration, and anger. By creating a feeling of peace and tranquility, ylang-ylang unlocks creative thinking and artistic expression. It is especially effective when dealing with anger-induced stress and can bring a feeling of immediate calm and peace.

Bergamot oil -The mild, sedating effect of this oil helps control anger, relieve stress, and reduce nervous tension, fear, and anxiety. It can help you get a better night’s rest, while also providing an energy boost that can improve your mood and uplift your spirit.

Just in case you are feeling stressed out how and in which proportion you should use these oils, I have a quick solution for you 🙂 You can use The Balance Mantra’s De Stress Essential Oil.

De Stress is a pure aromatic blend of Patchouli, Cedar wood, Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Bergamot oils and is an easy to carry solution to reduce stress anytime anywhere.

How to use:

Put a few drops of De stress oil on a handkerchief. Inhale the aroma a few times a day to get instant calming support. You can inhale it directly from the bottle as well.

Mix a few drops of De Stress oil with a carrier oil and apply on your pulse points to instantly release stress.

Rub 1-2 drops in cupped palms and take a long, deep breath.

Add a small cup of Epsom salt and 1 drop of De Stress to your bath water for a relaxed rejuvenating bath.

While indoors, add a few drops to your diffuser to get a calm and relaxing environment through the day.

Please note that severe cases of depression or anxiety cannot be cured through the use of essential oils alone. It is a good idea to contact your doctor before you decide to stop your medication and solely rely on aromatherapy to ease your symptoms and negative emotions.

Please drop your questions and comments below. I would love to hear from you

Acne…pimple….black head….white head…..those nasty breakouts…. we all must have ‘faced’ them some time or the other, haven’t we?

In fact, many of us try over the counter ointments or home remedies to cure them. Sometimes they work, temporarily, sometimes they don’t.

Have you ever considered using essential oils to treat your acne?

Essential oils have amazing healing properties that can help to eliminate your skin problems within a few days. Because of their anti bacterial anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties they can successfully treat your acne and promote glowing flawless skin.

Here are 5 amazing essential oils for treating acne:

Tea Tree Oil

It carries anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that also reduces skin inflammation and lessens redness.

It is a known fact that stress aggravates acne and can cause more pimples to appear Lavender oil is not only a great help at destroying acne-causing bacteria, but it also helps to reduce stress at the same time. So, this makes lavender oil an important ingredient in stress-related acne outbreaks.

How to use: Mix2-3 drops of lavender oil with jojoba or sweet almond oil and apply it on the infected area twice a day. OR

Mix a few drops of lavender oil with fresh lemon juice and dab on acne with cotton.

Rosemary

Rosemary essential oil has compounds that eliminate excess oil from the skin, kill off bacteria and reduce redness and swelling in clogged pores. It also helps to repair damaged skin and reduce scars.

How to use: Mix a few drops of Rosemary oil in castor oil or jojoba oil. Massage the oil into your skin for a few minutes and then wipe clean with a warm face towel.

Lemon

It is a great essential oil as it removes blackheads safely out of pores by tightening and drying the skin around the black heads. It also has antibacterial properties that prevent any infection or acne in the pore from which the blackhead has been removed.

Try this blackhead-removing mask: After taking steam on your face, gently squeeze the softened blackheads with a tissue to remove them. Mix 1 tsp baking soda, 1 drop lemon essential oil and enough water to form a paste. Rub onto your blackheads then wash off after 10 minutes.

Eucalyptus

The antiseptic & anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus essential oil help in preventing as well as healing acne and pimples. It reduces oil from acne prone skin & dry up pimples.

Depending on your skin type and severity of your acne, it may take some time before you notice any results. So, keep a little patience and try a combination of different essential oils for acne to find the perfect balance for your skin.

Please drop your questions and comments below. I would love to hear from you

That incident made me research for the medium that can be safely used to dilute essential oils with.

As essential oils are extremely concentrated, we should always dilute them prior to use on the skin. Carrier oils (also known as a base oil) are used to dilute essential oils prior to topical application. The term carrier oil is derived from their purpose in carrying the essential oil onto the skin.

Let me share a few facts about carrier oils.

Carrier oil is a vegetable oil derived from the fatty portion of a plant, usually from the seeds, kernels or the nuts.

These oils are usually created from cold-pressing vegetable matter, seeds or nuts.

Cold pressing involves temperatures of 600C and below, so the desired chemical compounds are largely unaffected.

All carrier oils are perishable, so it is important to store them away from light in a cool, dry place. Experts recommend refrigerating them for extended shelf life.

Different carrier oils offer different therapeutic properties and characteristics. You can choose carrier oil depending on the therapeutic benefit you are looking for.

Please drop your questions and comments below. I would love to hear from you

Do you ever feel tempted to apply Essential Oils undiluted on the body?

Well, I did…a few years back.

And that’s when I realized not all oils can be applied neat directly on the skin!

I happened to apply a drop of peppermint essential oil on the back of my neck to relieve a headache and soon felt an unpleasant irritation there. I immediately washed my skin with cold water and applied some aloe vera gel that I happened to have on hand. Thankfully, the skin just got a little red patch which disappeared pretty soon.

I soon realized that not all brands and makes are created equal and It’s really important to use high-quality therapeutic grade essential oils that are steam distilled.

But it also made me realize that it is very important to know more about essential oils before using (experimenting with) them, expecting to derive their benefits.

Here I have compiled a few basic but vital pieces of information about essential oils that I believe everyone should know as they begin using them.

How much oil is there in a bottle?

A 10ml bottle contains approx. 200-250 drops of an essential oil. If you use 10 drops a day that’s a 20-25 day supply. Approx 300 grams of peppermint leaves go into making a small 10ml bottle of peppermint essential oil!

How many drops to put in a bathtub?

Dropping essential oils into your bath tub just before getting in, isn’t such a great idea.

Essential oils don’t mix well with water so they won’t really be diluted in your bath. Chances are, the oils may stay on the surface or may cling to your skin. And this can lead to undesired side effects!

It’s better to dilute your essential oils in a carrier oil (less than 5% concentration would be safe) and then add that blend to the bath. More effective, fewer chances of side effects and you get the most bang for your buck too!

Can essential oils be applied directly to the skin?

I have found that applying essential oils directly on the skin can work sometimes.You could apply a soothing oil like Lavender but, try the oil on your elbow first. If the elbow skin doesn’t become red and irritated, it’s probably OK to use the oil directly, but not on the sensitive areas.

Essential oils like lemon and most other citrus oils are photosensitive. This means that they will cause your skin burn if you go outside after putting these on, even if you have diluted them. Using photo-sensitizing essential oils before going sunbathing is a big NO NO.

What parts of the body are the best absorption places?

Underarms, groin & the bottom of the feet are actually the best absorption places. Essential Oils are great anti-microbial and make great underarm deodorant. Moisture and heat help with their absorption.Try to dilute your essential oils before applying on the body.

How to store essential oils?

Store all Essential oils in a cool, dark and dry place, such as a closet. Citrus Essential oils like Lemon, are more vulnerable to losing their scent so store them in the refrigerator if possible.

Do not put essential oils in direct sunlight – it can change their constituents. When the light gets to Tea Tree Oil it – it becomes irritating. Tea Tree Oil in a clear glass bottle can convert into an irritant. If you buy essential oils in clear glass bottles, store them in a dark cabinet in a cool corner.

How are essential oils different from carrier oils?

Essential oils are distilled from the leaves, bark, roots and other aromatic portions of a plant. Essential oils evaporate and have a concentrated aroma. Carrier oils, on the other hand, are pressed from the fatty portions (seeds, nuts, kernels) and do not evaporate or impart their aroma as strongly as essential oils. Carrier oils can go rancid (stale or rotten) over time, but essential oils do not. Instead, essential oils “oxidize” and lose their therapeutic benefits, but they don’t go rancid.

Why do we use a carrier oil to dilute essential oil?

In certain cases, essential oils are diluted with water, such as when we diffuse them in a diffuser and get steam from the oil and water into the air, or when we add them to a bathtub for aromatherapy. However, when they are applied to the skin, water doesn’t work well. Essential oils evaporate into the skin very quickly, going deep into the layers of skin where it causes irritation. Diluting them with plain water won’t’ help. However, carrier oil sits on the skin for longer, so you can rub it on the skin with the essential oils. Carrier oil also protects your delicate skin while neutralizing the scent of essential oil.

Is it safe to drink water infused with lemon oil, for its health benefits?

You should be very careful about which oils you take into your body as some may be toxic when ingested. Do not consume essential oils unless the oil that you buy has been specifically advertised as safe for internal use. When in doubt, do not ingest essential oils.

What should be done if skin discomfort or irritation is experienced after using an essential oil?

You should discontinue use of that particular oil immediately. You can dilute and calm essential oils that have already been applied to the skin by adding a few drops of carrier oil to the affected area.

What should be done if our eyes come in contact with essential oils?

If your eyes come in contact with an Essential oil, do not rub them. Soak a cotton cloth with vegetable oil or milk and gently wipe over the affected area. You may also wash your eyes with lukewarm tap water for fifteen minutes by cupping your hands and allowing the water into your eyes.

Please drop your questions and comments below. I would love to hear from you

Ever since I started using essential oils, diffusing them has been my preferred method of enjoying their immense benefits. Inhaling the unique natural aroma of different oils uplifts my mind and gives a feeling of well-being in the body.

How relaxing and refreshing this feeling is!

You can diffuse different essential oil for different effects you desire. There are essential oils that can stimulate and energize your senses or calm and soothe your stressed self. They can purify the air you breathe; helps get rid of unwanted odors, and even clear away airborne pathogens that are harmful to health. Essential oils provide a safe, natural way to purify the air in a room, without inhaling harmful toxins and chemicals present in air purifiers available over the counter.

Although you can inhale essential oils directly from the bottle, I have found diffusion is simpler, more convenient and effective way to use essential oils aromatically, especially when you are indoors.

A few things you should take into consideration before and during the diffusion of essential oils:

Do not diffuse essential oils constantly for long hours; diffusing your essential oils for 20 – 30 minutes, every two hours is a safe option.

Use caution when diffusing essential oils around children and pets. You can either keep the diffuser in a room where they don’t have access or put it someplace wide and high enough to enjoy a subtle aroma.

Ensure that the room you diffuse essential oils in should always be well ventilated.

Don’t over diffuse essential oils. As these oils are powerful concentrated essences, their overexposure may cause headaches or nausea. Generally speaking, 5 – 7 drops of essential oils in an aromatherapy diffuser is enough to do the job.

You should not diffuse essential oils for a long time without the consent of a doctor if you are pregnant, a diabetic or have any other health conditions.

I’d describe the aroma of Rosemary as herby, even woody. Anyone who’s cooked with rosemary knows the familiar aroma. It’s a shrub-like green plant having pale blue flowers and slender needle-like leaves. The most potent part of this plant, extracted in the form of the essential oil, is very beneficial in the fight against obesity and cellulite. It could help you focus better, remember things, relieve your headache, release mental fatigue and nervous exhaustion. And of course one of my most favorite ways to use it is to nourish hair and stimulate hair growth.

Research on this oil indicates that Rosemary is also useful in the treatment of conditions like diarrhea, flatulence, and jaundice. Conditions like muscle aches and arthritis, sinusitis, cough, acne, eczema can also be relieved with the use of Rosemary Essential oil. It is an effective antiseptic and an antibacterial/antifungal agent too!

Here are 11 magical ways of using Rosemary for your health and well being:

Anti-Aging – Mix one to two drops of Rosemary essential oil to your night cream and apply daily.

Hair Detangling Spray – In a spray bottle, combine eight ounces of distilled water, one teaspoon of Aloe Vera gel, two drops of glycerin, and five drops each of lavender and rosemary essential oils. Spray onto hair as needed.

Heal Acne – Mix 2 to 3 drops of rosemary oil into 1/2 teaspoon of your preferred carrier oil, spread it over your face, avoiding the eyes, and massage the face. Dampen a soft towel with warm water and wipe the oil off. The antibacterial and antiseptic rosemary oil properties will heal the acne and improve your skin.

Reduce Cellulite – Mix 2 drops of Rosemary essential oil with 3 teaspoons of Jojoba or Olive or Sweet almond oil and massage the areas of cellulite once or twice each day. This mix will increase circulation to help clear out the toxins and firm your skin.

Reduce Stretch Marks – Mix 5 drops of Rosemary oil to 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and massage it into any areas of your skin where stretch marks are visible. You can use it a couple times a day. It is important to use coconut oil for this recipe as it adds its own stretch-mark-fighting properties to the mix.

De-stress / Relieve Anxiety – Add 2 drops of Rosemary oil and 3 drops of Lavender oil to your diffuser and switch it on. Relax for 20-30 minutes. Rosemary oil has been found to alleviate stress and tension by decreasing the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Together with lavender oil, it can also decrease anxiety.

Relief from indigestion and stomach cramps – Get relief from those nasty stomach cramps, bloating and indigestion with Rosemary oil. Massage a few drops of Rosemary oil diluted with a carrier oil onto your belly. It can aid in expelling excess gas in the digestive tract, while its antispasmodic effect can relieve painful stomach spasms.

Improve Memory – Mix 3 drops of rosemary oil with 1/2 tsp of coconut oil and rub the mix on your upper neck once a day.

Hair Growth – Dilute a few drops of Rosemary oil with coconut oil and massage on your scalp. Leave it on for a few hours or overnight.Rosemary oil stimulates circulation and blood flow to the scalp, which in turn can stimulate hair growth.

Before using rosemary oil, please keep in mind:

It is necessary to test for any allergic reactions to Rosemary oil. If you have a sensitive skin, you may experience itching, irritation or stinging, so it’s always best to test it on a small patch of your skin first and use it in diluted form.

Do not use the oil in certain conditions such as epilepsy and hypertension.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use rosemary oil as it may cause harm to the unborn baby.

Ingestion of rosemary oil is not advisable, as its potency can cause vomiting, spasms and other harmful effects.

Rosemary oil is very versatile and can be used for daily health and overall well-being.

Please drop your questions and comments below. I would love to hear from you

http://thebalancemantra.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Logo-The-Balance-Mantra-Tag-2.png00adminhttp://thebalancemantra.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Logo-The-Balance-Mantra-Tag-2.pngadmin2017-08-02 08:46:452017-08-02 08:46:4511 Magical Uses of Rosemary Essential Oil for Health and Well Being

Using essential oils aromatically is an extremely convenient and simple way to experience the uplifting, relaxing and purifying nature of these oils. They are extremely powerful in promoting the calm and stable environment, purifying the air, managing mood and emotions, and much more.

We get the benefit from the natural properties of the oils by way of breathing in the aroma.

This is typically achieved by diffusing or inhaling essential oils directly. This is because essential oils have the ability to disperse through the air quickly, thus allowing you to experience the distinct, potent and pleasant aroma of an essential oil even from the very moment that a bottle is opened and the fragrance passes through your nose.

Here are 11 easy and effective ways to use essential oils aromatically:

Get Rid Of The Stench In Your Trash – Place 4 drops of lemon essential oil and 5 drops of tea tree oil onto a cotton ball. Place the cotton ball at the bottom of the trashcan to help eliminate odors and detoxify.

Neutralize Pet Odor – Use 10 to 20 drops of lavender, or lemon oil with apple cider vinegar (it’s easily available online; you can check your local supermarket too). Shake well and spray around the room that you wish to eliminate pet odor.

Remove Cigarette Smoke Odor – Place four drops each of rosemary essential oil, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water and spray around the house.

Reduce Anxiety – Diffusing lavender essential oil around your house can help to combat feelings of stress and tension. You can also pour a few drops on a tissue and place it in your purse or pocket when going outdoors. Just pull out and inhale to calm yourself. Or just carry your lavender oil bottle everywhere you go – must-have item in your bag!

Open Airways – Inhale the vapor of lavender and eucalyptus oils mixed with hot water to open the airways when you have congestion, a cold, or flu to breathe better. A lot of people only use eucalyptus dropped in hot water, but blending both can be soothing as well as more effective!

Curb Your Cravings – Put 2-3 drops of peppermint oil on a tissue and inhale mid-morning or mid-afternoon to slow desire for snacking and help feel full faster.

Insomnia – Diffuse chamomile, lavender oil in your bedroom, add a few drops to a hot pre-sleep bath, or place a few drops on your pillow.

Smell good naturally – Place 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil behind your ears or on your wrists for a fabulous, natural perfume.

Freshen up surfaces – Add several drops of Lemon oil to water in a spray bottle or small bucket to clean and freshen floors, countertops, and other surfaces naturally.

Get rid of insects – Put 3-5 drops of lavender oil on a cotton ball. Place it in your closet to get rid of moths and other insects. You’ll love the feeling of opening your closet every day!

There are plenty of other ways to use essential oils effectively. I have just shared a few of my favorites. Go ahead, experiment and have fun with them!

Please drop your questions and comments below. I would love to hear from you

When it comes to our kids, we are super motivated to do things better and better. We stretch ourselves far and beyond ourselves to do the best we can for them.

But sometimes, that best effort can be misplaced. Like when we want to ensure that our kids don’t fall sick and we protect them a little too much, we end up compromising on their chance to build their own immunity.

Thankfully, for me, essential oils didn’t fall into that category (I found out from my research and experience using them). Rather, they help to support my children’s natural body responses instead of crippling their natural abilities to fight off infections and illnesses.

This is why I want to share some beneficial uses of these natural essential oils with you!

Here are 3 of my all time favorite essential oils for kids:

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender has many calming, relaxing and sedative effects. When diffused, it not only smells good it also repels microbes from the environment while cleansing both the air and body of toxins. A lavender oil massage can help to relax a fussy baby and encourage sleep. It can also be used on insect bites and to reduce itchiness.

How to use:

Healing Cuts & Scrapes

Mix 7 drops of Tea Tree essential oil and 6 drops of Lavender essential oil with one ounce of melted coconut oil. Allow the mix to harden. Apply it on cuts and scrapes as needed.

Nighttime Massage Oil

Mix 12 drops of Lavender essential oil in one ounce of sweet almond oil. Massage into skin before bed to promote a restful night’s sleep.

Helps babies feel relaxed and comfortable.

Add 10 drops of Lavender essential oil and 1 cup of Epsom salt to a tub of warm water. Allow your little one to soak/play/sit in it for 15-20 minutes. Doing this at the end of the day helps babies sleep better and their bodies get rid of toxins.

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon is best for fighting viruses and bacteria as it is a powerful air disinfectant. I keep a spray bottle (mix a few drops of lemon oil with water) handy for quick cleanups in children’s playroom.

Peppermint oil is very useful as a digestive aid. It also helps in reducing fever and headache. It has a natural cooling effect to help bring the temperature down.

How to use

Fever Reducer

Mix peppermint oil with coconut oil and rub it on a child’s neck and on the bottom of their feet to help stabilize a fever instead of aspirin or other drugs.

Congestion

Use peppermint oil to naturally relieve cold symptoms in children. Mix 1-2 drops of peppermint oil with 1 tsp of carrier oil such as jojoba, olive, or coconut oil and massage on to the chest and under the feet.